Wizards Final Two-Way Spot Potentially Opens For Reece Beekman

There's still time before training camp, but the Wizards now have an opening for a new two-way contract.

The Wizards acquired Tre Mann from the Cleveland Cavaliers, which saw Cam Whitmore moved in the deal. However, because the trade included five teams, Washington had to include Julian Reese part of the package. Reese was traded to Denver, where he was waived.

Now, Washington has two of three two-way contract slots filled. Though he was just as intriguing of a candidate for a standard NBA contract after his Summer League performance, the potential path for Reece Beekman remains an attractive possibility to finalize the Wizards' roster.

Beekman, 24, was a standout with Washington in its Summer League experience, averaging 7.8 points and six assists in five games. In the final contest against Atlanta, the former Virginia Cavalier posted an impressive 15-assist performance, becoming one of seven players to record at least 14 assists in a Summer League game.

Outside of his playmaking, Beekman excelled shooting from the outside, connecting on over 41% of his triples. He was noticeable every night, including the two games that saw AJ Dybantsa, Will Riley and Tre Johnson suit up for the Wizards.

Adding him to a two-way deal could make sense for Washington because he'd likely have plenty of opportunities to play with the Capital City Go-Go if he's not featured in the everyday rotation. Two-way contracts allow players to play a maximum of 50 games in a season.

Given that the Wizards are a much deeper team than last season, there likely won't be as many minutes available for two-way players in 2026. However, Beekman showed real promise in the Summer League, and the argument for him to take the final spot is strong. Former UNC Tar Heel Seth Trimble may have been another good candidate for the opening, but he elected to return to school and play for Louisville after the Colorado district court ruling on the Class of 2022 opened the door for his eligibility.

Beekman arguably could be most valuable in limited minutes as a defender. In the Summer League, he averaged two steals per night, and consistently applied heavy ball pressure. Beekman has always made his money as a defender. He took home back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. He became the first player to win it back-to-back years since John Henson in 2011 and 2012. 

If the Wizards are interested in a player who can playmake and defend at a high level in limited minutes, this would be the easiest in-house option, especially with the two-way spot now paving the way for the move.